Personality an Example of the Topic Psychology Essays by

Personality Introduction Puzzling people move all around us. You are one and I am one. Evidence to show that we are single, clearcut individuals is meager; in fact, a large number of studies indicate that each of us alters our personalities and behaves differently, depending upon circumstances. Apparently the same ability holds true regarding ourselves. We do all manner of quite bizarre things that don't fit together objectivelylike the good Christian tax-evaderbut these contradictions don't make us come apart or feel we are two different peopleinstead, I am just me, all one person. We see all parts of ourselves as fitting together; usually it is the mental patient, ironically, who detects the discrepancies, and they are quite worrisome to him. Need essay sample on "Personality" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Personality theorists fall prey to the desire for unity for its own sake all the time. As one author has pointed out, for example, if a woman is sometimes fiercely independent and sometimes rather docile, the psychologist tends to lump these two behaviors together, concluding, for example, that she is actually quite independent and dominating, but to satisfy this need for domination, sometimes she must "pretend" to be docile (Mischel, 2001). This is pretty tricky reasoning. The point is that personality theorists to oversimplify; at least be aware of this as we discuss personality. Nonetheless, science cannot advance without some organization, and personality theories provide this structure, that is, something psychologists can at least "grab hold of" so they have some framework for discussion and experimentation. Personality is difficult to define for at least two reasons. For one, personality is differently defined by different theorists. Freud, for example, would have said that personality is made up of behavior patterns resulting from the handling of sexual and aggressive impulses during childhood. Others see the origins of behavior differently. The second difficulty is that personality is the ultimate in complexity and variability. How do we explain Mr. Jones, who is the following: a tax-evader, a shifty business operator during the week, a faithful and apparently sincere churchgoer on Sunday, a dynamo at work and very meek at home? What is personality? Any definition could give rise to legitimate complaints. But, in order to give the discussion some structure, a definition is needed: personality consists of relatively enduring behavior patterns that result in fairly consistent reactions to a number of different situations. Personality theory attempts to pinpoint specific types of people, determine what is responsible for producing that type of person, and make predictions about their behavior that will hold true most of the time. Background The Meaning of Personality Personality is a fascinating area of study, but a difficult concept to define. In this study, we define personality as the organization of an individual's distinguishing characteristics, attitudes, or habits; it includes the individual's unique ways of thinking, behaving, or otherwise experiencing the environment. The qualities that make up one's personality are relatively stable and organized into a totality. With this definition of personality in mind, we can identify four separate tasks that personality psychologists have addressed (Runyan, 2003). To analyze individual and group differences. Why are people different from each other? Are members of some groups more similar to each other than other groups? For example, are there personality dimensions that influence the way we experience life events such as the midlife transition? To understand particular individuals. Students tell us that this is a major reason that they take introductory psychology. They want to find out what makes peoplethemselves and others do the things they do. To study personality processes. There are many personality processes, including altruism and sex-role differences. For example, are masculinity and feminity dimensions of personality that influence behavior in predictable ways? To develop general theories of personality. Theories of personality are unified explanations for the totality of individual behavior. Discussion Research Issues in Personality Psychologists have approached these tasks using a wide variety of research methods (Craik, 2003). Knowledge about people's personalities can be obtained from their everyday conduct, as is the case in field studies. People also reveal themselves through the products of their imaginations, and this technique is used when personality tests known as projective tests are given to people. A straightforward approach to gathering personality data is to ask people to fill out self-report inventories about their characteristics. With this method, two risks are apparent: People may not be fully aware of what they are like; and if they are, they may wish to cover up some of the flaws they perceive. We gain information of a different sort about personality when we ask others for their impressions of specific people. This technique is known as the use of observer reports in research. Life histories, such as those biographies and autobiographies, and archival material provide a rich source of data on particular individuals for the study of personality. Clinical case histories, on which many of the major theories are based, fall into this category. The most carefully controlled information comes from behavior in laboratory studies of personality. Although control is maximized in laboratory studies, it is sometimes at the expense of naturalistic experiences. No single source of information about personality is the ideal, correct source. All these methods are important for obtaining information about personality. Published research on personality, however, relies heavily on self-report inventories and laboratory studies with limited samples of people. Between 1998 and 2002, 85% of the research published in major journals used these two methods, and approximately two thirds of the research used under-graduate samples (Craik, 2003). However, there has been a trend in recent years toward greater use of biographical material, sometimes referred to as psychobiography, in the study of personality (Alexander, 2003). Psychoanalytic Models of Personality According to psychoanalytic models of personality, people are born with psychic energy that is transformed and redirected during their normal course of development into complex human behavior. In the psychoanalytic view, the human mind is an active agent, with divisions that keep some material from entering conscious experience. We consider in detail psychoanalytic view, the human mind is an active agent, with divisions that keep some material from entering conscious experience. We consider in detail the psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud and, to a lesser extent, other psychoanalytic perspectives. Freud's Psychosexual Theory Freud developed most of his theory through his studies of his patients, people who sought his help or were referred to him for help for psychological problems. These problems, he believed, were related to the ways that instinctual energy was channeled. For example, patients suffering from hysteria, a disorder in which physical symptoms are present without apparent organic basis, were suspected if allowing their sexual energy to build up without appropriately discharging (Freud, 1977). According to Freud, there are two sources of instinctual energy that "are the ultimate cause of all activity" (Freud, 1977). One instinct accounts for feelings and behavior related to self-preservation and preservation of the species, including sexual behavior; Freud called this the life instinct (eros). The other instinct, called the death instinct (thanatos), impels the person toward aggression and destruction (Freud, 1977). Most of Freud's work on personality was concerned with the life instinct. However, Freud's views in aggression and its place in civilization merit a slight digression. Primitive people, according to Freud, had no restrictions on the expressions of their instincts. Expression of sexual urges was not restricted by social norms and decorum. Contemporary civilized societies, however, place fairly rigid restrictions on sexual expression. We can only have intercourse in appropriate places and with certain people or we face severe social sanctions. Similarly, civilization limits expression of our aggressive instincts. Freud felt that aggression was a derivative of the death instinct, and that it could be channeled in two different directions. If directed toward the self, then the individual risks self-destruction. If directed away from the self, aggression is the result. Because of the instinct demands some kind of expression, a decrease in aggression increases the risk of self-destruction (Freud, 1977). Freud's views on aggression are controversial in a number of respects. For one thing, he tells us that civilization itself is part of our problem. Conclusion From a practical point of view, Freud's notion that aggression is an instinct that demands some kind of releaseinstead of a form of social behavior that can be increased or decreased through environmental circumstancesis especially controversial. Consider the case of television violence. If Freud's views are correct, then watching televised violence might actually be a good thing. People could reduce their aggressive instincts through catharsis, on relief of the emotions from viewing the experiences of others. Perhaps no aspect of everyday life is more common than watching television. In the average American household the television set is on more than 6 hours a day, and the average child between the ages of 2 and 11 watches it for about 3 hours daily. Estimates are that by high school graduation, the average American child will have spent 11,000 hours in the classroom and 15,000 hours watching television. Programs aimed specifically at children, such as Saturday morning cartoons, contain a great deal of violence. The National Institute of Mental Health's report on television and behavior estimates that children's weekend programs contain more violence than do prime-time shows (NIMH, 2002). Hundred of studies have examined the relationship between television violence and actual aggression among viewers. In one of these studies, more than 500 children in grades 1 through 5 participated in a short-term longitudinal study. Reference: Alexander, I. (2003). Personality, psychological assessment, and psychobiography. Journal of Personality, 56, 265-294. Craik, F.I.M. (2003). Personality research methods: A Historical perspective. Journal of personality, 54, 18-51. Freud, S. (1977). Analysis of a phobia in five year old boy. In A Strachey " J. Strachey (Eds. And Trans.), (Vol. 10,pp. 165-305). New York: Penguin (Penguin Freud Library). Mischel, W. (2001). Continuity and change in personality. Amer. Psychol. 34:1012-1018. National Institute Mental Health (2002). Television and behavior: Ten years of scientific progress and implications for the eighties: Vol. 6. Summary report (DHHS Publication No. ADM 95-1195). Washington, DC:US Government Printing Office. Pervin, L.A. (2005). Personality: Current controversies, issues, and directions. Annual Review of Psychology, 36, 83-114. Runyan, W.M. (2003). Progress in psychobiography. Journal of Personality, 56, 295-326

Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder Introduction This assignment is a discussion on the topic of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).The discussion is based on the definition of Major Depressive Disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Major Depressive Disorder specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The purpose of the discussion is to analyze the definition of MDD and identify any gaps based on the social and biomedical perspectives, after which it gives the recommendations to fill the gaps in the definition so as to inform the definition of the MDD in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The discussion starts with a definition of MDD, then goes on to identify the gaps and the recommendations to fill the gaps. At the end is a conclusion which sums up the main arguments of the discussion. Discussion The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Di sorders Criteria for Defining MDD The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders bases its definition of MDD majorly on the criteria of consistence and persistence of symptoms. The criteria distinguish MDD from depression by describing MDD as occurring in a prolonged manner, usually for a period of two weeks. It defines MDD as a form of depression in which the patient experiences feelings of disturbed moods in a recurrent manner. The mood disturbance cause disruption of the patient’s normal mood and makes him or her unable to adjust or behave accordingly in school, family setting as well as in work. The criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not have any kind of diagnosis for MDD but relies on observation of the patient, the patient’s own account of changes in mood as well as reports by close friends or relatives on the observed changes in mood in the patient. The most notable symptoms which are relied on in diagnosing for MDD include day to day mood changes lasting for more than two weeks, lack of interest in virtually all daily activities even those which are very interesting, instances of daytime sleep (hypersomnia), loss of appetite which leads to loss of body weight, or a weight gain by more than 5 kilograms, inability to concentrate or think aptly, fatigue which leads to feelings of tiredness even after waking up, occasional thoughts about death which are accompanied by feelings of worthlessness, and suicidal or homicidal tendencies. On the symptom of depressed mood however, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria does not categorize depressed moods caused by things like drug and alcohol use or misuse, or depressed mood caused by other medical illnesses or conditions as MDD.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It does not also diagnose MDD for patients who are believ ed to have histories of mixed episodes, mania, bipolar disorder or hypomanic. Similarly, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria do not attribute the symptoms of depression caused by stress and bereavement in the criteria for diagnosing for MDD. The treatment and management of MDD under the criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders mainly constitutes of three major interventions namely psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy and the use of antidepressants. For psychotherapy, the criteria recommend cognitive behavioral therapy both to the victim and his or her family members as well as close friends. It also recommends the method of psychoanalysis which was proposed by Sigmund Freud as a way of reconciling the past experiences with the present so as to help the patient get rid of the traumatic experiences of the past and live in a new orientation. According to the criteria, psychotherapy is recommended for patients with mild forms o f MDD. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders recommends antidepressant intervention for the severe cases of MDD which are accompanied by other mental illnesses. The commonly used antidepressant is the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), which is known to be effective especially for those patients who have recurrent episodes of MDD as well as those who respond negatively to psychotherapy. Electroconvulsive therapy is recommended for those patients who do not respond positively to both psychotherapy and antidepressants. It is also recommended for those patients who have suicidal tendencies, or those who are faced with the threat of dying due to their inability to eat or drink. It involves the generation of seizures in the patient’s brain through the use of electric waves especially when the patient is in a state of anesthesia. The Gaps in the Definition and Recommendations One major gap in the above definition of MDD is that the Diagnostic and S tatistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not consider social factors such as stress, stigma, criticism from other people, isolation and other relationship problems and challenges in its definition of MDD. According to a study done by Kleinman in 2004, negative criticism especially from family members is a major cause of MDD especially among women (Kleinman, 2004. pp.951-953). Other researchers have found out that grieve may be a cause of MDD, especially if the patient loses loved ones in a series of episodes. The prolonged stress as a result of bereavement may precipitate MDD in the patients, especially if the patients had strong emotional attachment to the deceased.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Major Depressive Disorder specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders should therefore consider including in its criteria of the causes of MDD the socia l factors mentioned above. This would allow for wider conceptualizations of the disorder, consequently leading to a wider conceptualization of its treatment and management. This would also widen the scope, especially with regard to counseling approaches involved. Such a move may see the inclusion of bereavement counseling as a way of dealing with or managing MDD. Going by the Diathesis-Stress perspective of mental illness, the criteria for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has got some other gaps in its definition and conceptualization of MDD. According to this perspective, individuals are born with certain predispositions, which are nurtured by environmental interactions into specific thought patterns and or personalities, some of which may manifest themselves as MDD. The diathesis stress perspective identifies various predispositions which may shape the future personalities of young children. Such predispositions include genetics, neurotransmitters, neurobiolog y and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis (Martinowich Lu, 2008. pp.342-348). The next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders should therefore comprise the above mentioned predispositions in its definition and conceptualization of MDD. This is because with such a gap in a definition of an important concept like MDD, it can make the diagnosis and treatment too narrow, biased and consequently inappropriate and inadequate in dealing with the disorder. The idea of the current edition of ignoring symptoms linked to personalities is tantamount to ignoring a very important aspect of mental illnesses. MDD should therefore be contextualized not only in terms of the duration in which it occurs but also on the history of the individual especially in regard to the above predispositions. The other gap which is found in the definition and conceptualization of MDD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental criteria is the role of sleep patterns in M DD. According to Krishnan, both ‘decreased REM latency’ and ‘decreased slow wave sleep’ are known to be major contributors of MDD. This is because upon the necessary intervention to deal with them, most patients show improvement in the severity of symptoms of MDD. Based the findings by Krishnan, the next edition should include the sleep patterns in the diagnosis for MDD. This would make the treatment of MDD more inclusive and consequently effective, as opposed to the current situation in which the sleep disorders and patterns are completely ignored in the diagnosis and treatment of MDD. Conclusion This assignment was a discussion on the topic of major depressive disorder. The discussion was based on the current edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) and how it defines MDD. From the discussion, it has emerged that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) criteria is perhaps the most comprehen sive approach in defining MDD as well as other mental illnesses.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The criteria for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines MDD based on the criteria of the duration of the symptoms, which it puts at two weeks. In the diagnosis of MDD, the criteria rely on observations of symptoms like suicidal tendencies and lack of concentration in the patients. These symptoms may be reported by the patient or his or her close friends or family members. One of the gaps which have been identified in the definition is the ignorance of some predispositions like genetics as well as social factors like stigma, isolation and criticisms. One of the recommendations is that the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders should factor in the issues identified above so as to fill the gap in the definition and make the diagnosis and treatment of MDD more inclusive and effective. References Kleinman, A. (2004).Culture and Depressions. The New England Journal of Medicine, (351) 10, pp.951-953. Krishnan. (2010). Epidemiology, Pathogenesis Neurobiology of Depression. Web. Martinowich, K., Lu, B.(2008). Interaction between BDNF and Serotonin: Role in Mood Disorders. Neuropsychophamacology: Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychophamacology, 12(3), pp.342-348.

Mount Saint Helen's Video (Back from the Dead) Essay

Mount Saint Helen's Video (Back from the Dead) - Essay Example According to researchers the mountain is categorized as a composite volcano due to its characteristics, emanating from the cone shape and also the composition of the mountain’s layers which include lava, ash and volcanic debris. The mountain was symmetrical before its eruption; it also commanded a considerable height. As indicated earlier the effects of the Mt. St. Helens eruption caused losses, in economical and geographical spheres. According to the information collected, the destruction spread to an area of more than 500 square kilometers. The lava emitted flowed and covered the area indicated above, bringing about destruction to the existing vegetation, killing the animals located within the area, and also displacing a lot of people from the region (Carson p 79). According to research, 57 people died, the group included inhabitants of the region, scientists and geologists. Historical data clearly shows that the area had been locked up to prohibit the entry of residents, si nce scientists had made a conclusion that the mountain was at its dormant stage. As the video clearly indicates, the respondents interviewed through the documentary are not certain whether the mountain will erupt within the coming years. Indications from the remnant vegetation and land cover only attests to the magnitude of the eruption. The process started with a gradual occurrence which proceeded to a bigger result. The process began with a series of earthquakes being experienced from the bottom part of the mountain. As the number of earthquakes increased the mountain erupted releasing ash and steam. After the eruption, a continued earthquake process and the bulging of the northern part of the mountain clearly indicated that magma was moving up, through the vent (Carson p 124). As the bulge continued, the continued earthquake action led to the busting of the northern compartment of the mountain, triggering the sliding of ice and rocks down the mountain. Consequently after the viol ent earthquake action, the mountain erupted releasing gases, magma and water from the northern side where the bulge had been spotted. The eruption triggered the acceleration of the molten rock, hot rock and ash all over the surface. The effects of the eruption can be accounted for, through the covering of the nearby basins and lakes. Other forms of disturbances are accounted for through classification into various disturbance zones where the effect was witnessed. The first disturbance zone is the flow of the pyroclasticmaterial through the face of the mountain. This process generally involved the flow of pumice and gas through the crater into the overlooking land. This flow caused destruction to the existing organism, with both the vegetation and organic organisms not spared. Debris thrust from the crater also cascaded down the mountain, with avalanches also being witnessed. The second disturbance zone, also known as the northern debris avalanche was witnessed soon after the norther n region of the mountain collapsed due to the bulging of the surface. The debris collected from the collapsed material formed into a large mound which caused a large landslide, which according to the historical evidences indicates that it was the largest land slide witnessed. After the landslide had been experienced, the ice found at the peak of the mountain melted into water which combined with other materials such as sand, boulders and other debris to form a thick material,

What were the critical success factors allowing the corporate venture Essay

What were the critical success factors allowing the corporate venture between SAS and IranAir to succeed - Essay Example The professional article Customer Focused Service Development in Practice – Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) by Guustafsson, Ekdahl and Edvarsson shows that Scandinavian Airlines System is currently improving its face value by implementing many dramatic changes. This changes were to keep up with the competition’s services. For, the current and prospective customers of Scandinavian Airline System had seriously impressed their demands and complaints that has forced the administration of SAS to dance to the music of the customers. Historically, many airline companies have closed their ears to the suggestions and recommendations of the flying public. Many airline companies feel that they are too engrossed in their stagnant self–centered theory that the Airline companies should build a fence to cut off the customer’s complaints and suggestions. Surprisingly, SAS had a questionnaire survey to ferret out the complaints and suggestions from current and prospecti ve customers. Based on results of their survey questions, the new company policy is to prioritize implement programs that the current and prospective clients want in order to increase airline sales.

Leukemia: An overview

Leukemia: An overview What Is Leukemia? Leukemia is the general term used to describe four different disease-types called: Acute Myelogenous (AML), Acute Lymphocytic (ALL), Chronic Myleogenous (CML), and Chronic Lymphocytic (CLL). AML, the most common type of leukemia, is an attacking cancer of the bone marrow and blood. ALL, the most common in young children and adults over 50, is a cancer of the lymphocytes. CML is a cancer of the blood-producing cells of the bone marrow. CLL is a cancer of the lymphocytes. What are the Symptoms of Leukemia? The symptoms for leukemia depend on the type of leukemia. For AML, the symptoms are: fatigue, weakness, easy bruising or bleeding, weight loss, fever, bone or abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, frequent infections, swollen glands, and swollen or bleeding gums. For ALL, the symptoms are: fatigue, weakness, easy bruising or bleeding, weight loss, fever, bone or abdominal pain, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), frequent infections, swollen glands, and enlarged liver or spleen. For CML, the symptoms are: fatigue, excessive sweating, weight loss, and abdominal swelling or discomfort because of enlarged spleen. For CLL, the symptoms are: swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, under the arms, or in the groin, discomfort or fullness in the upper left part of the abdomen because of enlarged spleen, fatigue, fever or infection, abnormal bleeding, and weight loss. What is the Diagnosis? The diagnosis for leukemia again depends on the type of leukemia. For AML, the tests that may be used to diagnosis a patient with AML are: blood tests, bone marrow biopsy, lumbar puncture, imaging tests, and subtypes. The tests that may be used to diagnose a patient with ALL is a little bit different. They are: blood tests, bone marrow biopsy, flow cytometry and cytochemistry, cytogenetics, lumbar puncture, and imaging tests. The tests for CML are: blood tests, bone marrow biopsy, cytogenetics, and imaging tests. The tests for CLL are: blood tests, bone marrow biopsy, flow cytometry and cytochemistry, and imaging tests. Some of the factors that may be considered by your doctor when choosing a diagnosis test are: age and medical condition, the type of cancer, severity of symptoms, and previous test results. What are the Risk Factors? A risk factor is anything that increases a persons chance of developing cancer. Some can be controlled, while some others cant. Most do not directly cause cancer. The risk factors that may raise your chances to get any one of those types of leukemia are: your age, if you smoked or if you are smoking, genetic disorders, high doses of radiation, if you had a previous chemotherapy treatment, race, viruses, gender, family history, and ethnicity. What is the Treatment? The treatment for each type of leukemia may depend on the classification, how healthy the person is, the patients stage, risk status, the subtype, morphology, and cytogenetics. Some of the kinds of treatments are: chemotherapy, induction, complete remission (CR), consolidation therapy, maintenance therapy, re-induction therapy, and central nervous system prophylaxis (preventive treatment), consolidation or intensification, Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Treatment (APL), Imatinib, Dasatinib, Nilotinib, stem cell transplantation/bone marrow transplantation, Interferon, SCT, Hydroxyurea, and Biologic therapy. What are the Side Effects of Cancer and Cancer Treatment? Cancer and cancer treatment can cause a variety of side effects. Some of the side effects are: constipation, fatigue, hair loss, infection, mouth sores, nausea and vomiting, Neutropenia, skin problems, and Thromboc- ytopenia. Not all patients have side effects. What about After Treatment? After treatment, talk to your doctor about developing a follow-up care plan. People that are in remission should have regular follow-up examinations for a few years to see if there is any sign of relapse or late effects. What are Some Questions to Ask the Doctor? Some questions that you should ask the doctor are: â€Å"What is my Diagnosis?, What does this all mean?, What subtype of (ALL, AML, CML, and CLL) do I have?, What are the possible side effects of this treatment?, What clinical trials are open to me?, Do I need to start treatment right away?, How likely is it that my (ALL, AML, CML, or CLL) will go into remission?, How will the treatment affect my normal activities, including my ability to work or attend school?, What support services are available to me?, Can you recommend a leukemia specialist?, and Where is the best place for me to be treated?.† What is the Classification for ALL Leukemia? The doctors classify ALL based on the type of lymphocytes that are affected.

We Must Have the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Essay -- argumentative, pe

Within the United States Constitution, amendments one through ten referred to as the â€Å"Bill of Rights† contains amendment two which reads â€Å"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed† (States, 1789). Despite this amendment, gun control still remains one of the most highly-debated issues in the United States. While the Constitution clearly states our right â€Å"to keep and bear Arms†, the gun control lobbyists continue to challenge this right by using the media to convey misleading stories on how guns by themselves are the problem. By contrast, the real issues are not the guns but the people who use them. Therefore guns should not be used as a political patsy to avoid dealing directly with the real issues that prompt gun-related violence. After the incidents at Columbine and Virginia Tech., a typical emotional reaction would be to blindly demand a b an on all firearms or wish they never existed in the first place. Some may feel motivated to push for legislation that makes us feel like we are "doing something," but this may not accomplish anything, or worse, it could do more harm (Schools and Gun Violence, 2008). Therefore the problems with American society are not related to the possession of firearms, but rather an unraveling of ethics and morals. To preserve our civil liberty such as the right to keep and bear arms, our current laws must be enforced consistently. Adding additional restrictions on our civil liberties will only ensure that one day our rights will slowly erode away, until gone completely. Just as any restriction put on the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances can be viewed as a violation... ...amounts to nothing less than tyranny: an insult to the intelligence of the people. Gun control underestimates the ability of citizens to educate themselves in proper weapons storage and usage. Gun control places too much power in the hands of the government, which can so easily turn on the people. The American Constitution should rarely be tampered with; its Bill of Rights was written with wisdom and foresight. The right to keep and bear arms is immutable. Works Cited Association, N. R. (2010). Issues. Retrieved June 11, 2011, from NRA: http://home.nra.org/#/ila Schools and Gun Violence. (2008, June 29). Retrieved June 11, 2011, from GunSite: http://guncite.com/gun_control_gcgvscho.html States, C. o. (1789, March 4). Bill of rights. Retrieved June 11, 2011, from http://www.archives.gov: http://archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html

Chemistry of Biomolecules Essay

Our class on DNA is divided into 3 parts: (I) Genetics (II) DNA structure (III) Concepts and applications. I. Genetics: In the primordial period, simple molecules were formed from atoms and from these molecules, macromolecules were formed. These macromolecules formed life and all living organisms. The classical genetic and heredity observations in the 19th century started the search for the origin of life. The transforming principle of DNA was demonstrated from the experiment in which non-pathogenic (R-form) and virulent (S-form) but heat treated bacteria, when co-injected, could kill the mice. After that, the link between genes (DNA) and genotype / phenotype was established. The link between the features of an organism and genes was established. II. DNA structure: The genomic DNA of a eukaryotic cell is located in a special organelle, the nucleus, whereas in a prokaryotic cell there is no nucleus. In a virus, including bacteriohage, the genome is packed efficiently. The nucleus of a human cell contains complete genetic DNA, organized in 46 chromosomes (22 autosomal pairs and two sex chromosomes). Chromatid is one of the two identical copies of DNA in a chromosome. The two copies approach each other at the centromere. The ends of DNA in a chromosome are called telomere. The location of a gene in a chromosome is marked as, say, 7q31.2 where 7 refers to the chromosome number, q is the long arm (the short arm of the chromosome is called ‘p’), 3 refers to the region of a chromosome when colored using a particular process, 1 refers to band 1 in that region and 2 refers to a sub-band within band 1. In the chromatin, DNA is wound around the histone core (made by 2 copies each of the H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 proteins) and clamped by the H1 protein. Anytime this DNA is accessed for any biochemical reaction, there will be physical rearrangement of DNA and the histone core and furthermore the histone proteins undergo chemical modifications, like acetylation and methylation. Two strands of DNA form duplex DNA through base-pairing. In a basepair, the two bases are unlikely to be perfectly aligned or coplanar. In the same token, two adjacent basepairs also need not be perfectly parallel to each other. There are three forms of DNA: B-DNA, A-DNA and Z-DNA. The B form is the physiological form. The other two forms are man-made from specific sequences. While the first two forms are right handed helices, the last one is left-handed. In the B-form, the minor groove is narrow and the major groove is wide whereas in the A and Z forms, the groove widths are nearly the same. Also, a basepair in the B-form cuts the helical axis whereas in the A-form, a basepair is very much away from the helical axis. However, in the Z-form a basepair lies in-between. Supercoiled DNA: In a chromosome (or even in a circular plasmid), DNA exists in a supercoiled form. Several studies have established the connection between the number of base-pairs (linking number, twist) and the level of supercoiling (writhing number). Assume there are 260 B-DNA base-pairs (10 base-pairs will form one full turn, Fig. 1; start from base-pair 1 on a strand and come to the same but one earlier position on the same strand after 10 base-pairs; the next 10 base-pairs form the next one round and so on). Now, convert the linear DNA into circular DNA by connecting the ends of the same strands. The twist T = total base-pairs / 10 = 260/10 = 26. The linking number is the number of times one strand crosses the other, which is also 26. So the equation becomes, L = T + W; or 26 = 26 + 0 Now cut only one strand and unwind that strand two times and reconnect the ends. That means, L becomes 24. In order to balance the above equation, 24 = 26 – 2 or W becomes -2. Or, the new circular adjusts (writhes) with two cross-overs. If you over-wind by two, L = 28 and W = +2. Even now, the circular DNA writhes by 2 but in the opposite direction. Apart from DNA, RNAs are also very important in several cellular processes. There are 3 types of RNA, mRNA, rRNA and tRNA. Of these 3 classes, the tRNA is normally depicted in the ‘clover leaf’ form, displaying its amino acid acceptor region and the anti-codon region. An amino-acyl tRNA synthetase enzyme attaches a corresponding amino acid to the tRNA. An important and emerging field is non-coding RNA. Class 1b III. Applications and concepts: There are several applications and processes that involve nucleic acids. However, due to the limitation of time, we will learn only a few applications. 1. DNA replication: In molecular biology, the important fundamental processes are: the cell cycle (including DNA replication – the making of DNA using a DNA template), transcription (the making of mRNA using a DNA template) and translation (the making of a protein using mRNA as a template). The next level of events includes reverse transcription (the making of DNA using an RNA template) and the making of RNA using an RNA template. The making of a protein using a DNA template is not yet known. In prokaryotic DNA replication, DNA is unwound by enzymes like helicases and long leading strands ( for the parental 3’ to 5’ strand) and several short lagging strands (for the parental 5’ to 3’ strand) are made by the DNA polymerase. The short fragments are joined by ligases. If there is any problem during DNA synthesis, like base-pair mismatch, selected enzymes fix those problems. In a eukaryotic cell, there are several origins of DNA replication (dedicated sequences in DNA) in a chromosome. DNA replication must be initiated only once per origin per cell cycle. First, origin replication protein complex (ORC) binds to the origin of replication. The CDC6 protein (CDC28 in yeast) binds to ORC. The CDT1 protein binds to CDC6. Next, the mini chromosome maintenance proteins 2 to 7 (MCM 2-7) binds to the above proteins. The assembly of all these proteins is called ‘licensing’ and the above complex of all these proteins is called the pre replication complex (pre-RC). There are two modes by which DNA re-replication is prevented. The first mode is through the involvement of cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs). We are not going to review that mode here. The other mode is through the involvement of geminin, a protein. Once DNA replication is initiated, Geminin binds to Cdt1 and primes it for degradation. Once Cdt1 is removed from the pre-RC, there cannot be another DNA replication firing. At the end of the cell cycle, even geminin is degraded. This way, DNA replication takes place only once per cell cycle. We have published the structure of geminin. The geminin-Cdt1 complex structure is also published by another group. 2. Cloning: In conventional sexual reproduction or in vitro fertilization (IVF), an egg is impregnated by a sperm cell. But in cloning, the nucleus of an egg is removed and a nucleus from any suitable cell from an individual is implanted. This cell grows with the same genetic make-up of the nucleus donor (not the egg donor). 3. DNA microarray: This development is an important tool to study how a normal cell and an affected cell (say, a cancer cell) behave and what are the genes that are up-regulated and down-regulated. On a commercial DNA chip, unique and short single stranded DNA fragments of all known human genes (as of today) are immobilized on glass. Take a normal cell and a cancer cell. Make complementary DNA for all the RNAs in the cells. Treat the normal cell DNA with a dye (say green) and that of the cancer cell with a red dye. Now pass the two pools of DNA through the chip. The genes that are active only in the normal cell (thereby making mRNA and hence cDNA) will bind to their complementary fragments (immobilized on the chip) and will emit green signal when detected. Similarly, the genes that are active only in the cancer cell will bind to their complementary fragments and will emit red signal. The genes that are common to both cells will give out yellow signal. From this we can learn which genes are upregulated and down regulated in a particular cell for a particular disease condition. 4. Transgenic / reporter genes: Selected color displaying proteins, like green fluorescent protein (GFP), can be used as reporters to identify the location of protein expression for a protein of interest. The GFP gene is attached to the gene of our interest and injected in an embryo and the location of protein expression is visually observed. Such techniques can be used to generate multicolored ornamental fish for the same species. 5. DNA protein interaction: Several proteins interact with DNA. For example, transcription factors bind to the promoter / enhancer regions of a gene. Restriction enzymes bind to and cut DNA. DNA polymerase is involved in DNA replication and RNA polymerase is important for transcription. Furthermore, amino-acyl tRNA synthetases bind to tRNAs and attach corresponding amino acids to them. 6. RNA interference: Most of the free forms of RNA, messenger RNA molecules in particular, are single strands. tRNAs and selected RNA regions are double-stranded. Many viruses, however, form long stretches of double-stranded RNA when they replicate. When our cells find double-stranded RNA, it is often a sign of an infection. However, plant and animal cells have a more targeted defense that attacks the viral double stranded RNA directly, termed RNA interference. Viral double-stranded RNA are cut into pieces (about 21 base-pairs), called small interfering RNA (SiRNA) by the protein Dicer. The argonaute protein strips away one strand from the siRNA, and then looks for any viral messenger RNA that matches it. If it finds some, it cleaves the RNA, destroying it. In this way, the cell removes all viral messenger RNA that is the same as the original double-stranded piece found and processed by dicer. Based on this principle, we can synthesize a non-natural interfering RNA, then insert it into a cell to destroy any messenger RNA that we desire. Researchers use these small RNA molecules to fight disease, for instance, using them to knock out cancer genes. 7. RNA modifying enzymes: RNA has to be modified in selected cellular processes. For example, uridine is modified to pseudo-uridine by pseudo-uridine synthase enzymes.